So what are the best ways to determine if you have a herniated disc? Or where the damage has occurred, is it in the lower back, neck, or upper back. You may experience numbness, pain and weakness in a particular area. The most common area however, is the lower back.

To determine the location and severity of the disc problem I usually order an MRI or CT scan after a thorough history and exam have been done. Patients with disc problems may experience pain that may last for weeks, months or many years. Most of the patients that present to the Arizona Back Institute have been suffering for quite some time.

Because of the frequency with which herniated discs occur, there are many treatments that have been developed to treat them.

Some of the most commonly used traditional medical options for herniated discs include physical therapy, Stretching, yoga, and Pilates. Traditional treatment also may include medication, spinal injections and often surgery.

The problem is that most of these treatments don’t offer a long term solution. That is the number #1 reason so many people seek out my office for spinal decompression. Spinal decompression in my opinion is the most successful treatment I have utilized for the treatment of disc pain in the lower back and neck.

I personally use the DRX9000 in my office. In the past 10 years I have offered spinal decompression to thousands of patients and have seen the most remarkable results. It provides a highly desirable alternative to invasive surgery.

The Understanding of the use of the DRX9000 is quite easy to comprehend. Since the main issue is in the treatment of herniated discs the treatment is ideal. It works by reducing the pressure in the disc until such time that a vacuum is formed. This vacuum reduces the herniation and decreases the pressure on nerves and other pain sensitive structures, reducing the feelings of pain and the disability.

Spinal Decompression requires you to undergo a minimum of 20 sessions; about 4-5 sessions in a week. This is combined with supportive exercises and other treatment modalities to increase the overall effectiveness of the treatment.

The pain of a herniated disc can be a life altering experience. Finding the right course of treatment can be a difficult proposition. If you don’ choose the right course of treatment you may be doomed to repeat episodes.

Randall Pruitt, DC,DACNB, DAAPM is a board certified chiropractic neurologist and an authority on spinal decompression for back pain. Click here to learn more about Spinal Decompression In Phoenix Arizona. You can also Order a copy of his Herniated Disc Guide.

The term sciatica is often used to describe pain down the leg, however the true definition of sciatica is irritation of the sciatic nerve, which is a combination of several nerves as they leave the lower back .The majority of cases of sciatica are caused by herniated or bulging discs in the lumbar spine. These discs are soft cartilaginous structures that provide cushion between each vertebrae.

The inner portion of the disc has a much higher water content then the outer portion and as is much softer in consistency. One the outer fibers become weaker or are damaged the softer material begins to move it’s way outward because of the positive pressure on the disc itself. As it moves out it begins to create a bulge or what’s called a herniated causing the disc to protrude outwards and narrowing the hole where the nerve exits. The narrowing can cause direct pressure on the nerve itself or create inflammation that can then irritate the nerve creating symptoms of pain, numbness or weakness down the leg.

Traditional treatment programs for sciatica typically consist of pain medication, injections and in severe cases surgery. These approaches may work in the short term to reduce inflammation and decrease the pain somewhat, however they also carry with them significant risk. The risk to reward benefit is often not worth it long term as most of these treatment are only temporary. If the problem becomes more severe and the nerve is actually compressed then these treatments may offer no relief at all.

Lets look at steroid injection in specifically now as a common sciatica treatment. The goal with an epidural steroid injection is to reduce inflammation to the nerve root and surrounding structures. While these types of injections can bring temporary relief, they can also cause what’s called a rebound effect, where the pain comes back much more intense. They can spike blood sugar in diabetics and over time can lead to other potential side effects. If the pain is severe however, the benefit of some pain relief may in fact be worth the risk, but the key is to do something proactive while the the pain is decreased.

If sciatic pain becomes unbearable then surgical intervention may be recommended. In a small number of sciatica cases this treatment may provide relief, at least temporarily. The problem is that surgical outcomes on the spine are low with about a 50% success rate and it brings with it significant risk factors. A common condition called failed back surgery syndrome is associated with spinal surgery and can the result of excessive scar tissue formation, spinal instability after surgery and increased stress on other spinal structures. The risk is also there for the need for a repeat surgery down the road.

Fortunately a new treatment exists that is highly effective and doesn’t bring with it the risk of side effects associated with other treatments. Spinal Decompression is a new, advanced form of spinal traction with a patented computer monitoring device. This device allow a gently and logarithmic pull of the spine safely bypassing the guarding reflex muscle contraction associated with traditional traction. Bypassing this muscle response allows a therapeutic negative pressure to develop inside the disc space drawing in nutrition and fluid to help the disc heal, but also reducing herniated or bulging material and relieving the sciatica nerve. The treatment is safe and gentle and brings with it a very high success rate in the high 80 percentile and because it physically treats the cause of sciatica the problem is not likely to return.

As research continues to pour in on spinal decompression, the benefits of this technology are more and more evident. It represents a real option for many suffering from sciatica to truly correct the problem and remain pain free. Although there are some that spinal decompression is not indicated for, many will find long lastly and highly effective relief from spinal decompression.

Dr. Randall Pruitt is a board certified chiropractic neurologist. He was a pioneer in the use of Spinal Decompression In Phoenix Arizona. He utilizes the DRX9000 in his practice to achieve results for the treatment of Sciatica In Phoenix

The causes of herniated and bulging discs can vary. They can be caused by natural aging as the fibers of the disc weaken they become more prone to herniate or bulge. Trauma, repetitive motions or stress can also cause a disc to bulge or herniate. Pain distribution can also vary depending on the location of the damage and the structures affected.

When diagnosing a herniated or bulging disc the symptoms may not provide accurate clues. However, if the pain is significant and symptoms radiate into the leg and down into the foot then a herniated or bulging disc is most likely the culprit. If coughing, sneezing or laughing increases the symptoms down the leg then a herniated disc diagnosis becomes more clear. Weakness of the leg muscles, tingling or numbness can also point to the likelihood of a herniated or bulging disc. Getting the proper treatment is even more important in these situations because any delay could result in permanent damage.

Disc problems are notorious for causing lower back pain, but neck pain can also be secondary to disc problems as well. Neck pain can be classified as simple mechanical neck pain and only be localized or it can involve the shoulder and arms and even the hands and fingers. Changes in movements or head positions can intensify the pain.

A new alternative to more invasive procedures, is non-surgical spinal decompression. Spinal decompression provides a real answer to the pain caused by herniated and bulging discs. It is also indicated in the treatment of degenerative disc disease and facet syndrome. The mechanism behind decompression is the use of a patented computer system that creates a negative pressure within the disc space. This negative pressure draws the bulging or herniated material back into place so the disc can heal.

Non-surgical spinal decompression utilizing the DRX9000 creates the negative pressures by utilizing a logarithmic pulling mechanism. This specific curve bypasses the typical guarding mechanism that is common with the spinal muscles. The technology necessary to apply spinal decompressive forces is patented and The DRX9000 True Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression System utilizes high-speed treatment computers to calculate the logarithmic spinal decompression treatment curve for each patient. Recently published clinical research data demonstrates very promising results for patients suffering with herniated or bulging discs.

Lower back pain secondary to herniated and bulging discs is quite common in the United States and a difficult medical problem to treat. However, with new technology like the DRX9000 Non-surgical spinal decompression system there is now a viable alternative to surgery and other invasive procedures.

Randall Pruitt, DC, DACNB, DAAPM, MUAC, CES-NASM is a chiropractic neurologist and founder of the Arizona Back Institute. He is a pioneer in the use of the DRX9000 In Phoenix Arizona and was one of the first doctors to offer Spinal Decompression In Arizona

While many of these additional treatments may give short term relief many the majority are not productive in adding any long term value to the treatment.

This is common in the therapy world, as passive treatments are often performed because they make the patient feel good at the time, but they don’t offer much in the way of structural change.

Many studies have been done showing a significant amount of muscle atrophy and weakness associated with common disc problems.

The disc injuries most common are disc herniation’s, bulges and degenerative discs.

These same studies have proven time and again that if left untreated this muscle weakness will lead to more spinal instability and another episode as severe or worse within 1 year.

This is why spinal decompression coupled with aggressive core strengthening is the best approach.

Dealing with the muscle weakness and spinal instability must be done cautiously as to not load or irritate the disc, but must be done nonetheless if full recovery is expected.

Spinal decompression and deep spinal stability training is the best combination for creating the optimal environment for healing.

Dr. Randall Pruitt is a board certified chiropractic neurologist. He started the Arizona Back Institute in Phoenix Arizona back in 2002. You can learn more about how he uses the DRX9000 in Arizona by clicking here.